New Developments After George Tiller's Death
Former Colleague May Provide Late-Term Abortions In Nebraska
© Jon Pike
Jun 12, 2009
The activism is still revolving around the recently killed Kansas abortion provider, Dr. George Tiller. Tiller was killed on a Sunday at a church service that he was attending. Kansas City resident Scott Roeder is facing charges of first-degree murder and aggravated assault in Tiller’s death. The abortion debate still continues and this incident keeps producing new developments.
Two of the most interesting developments to come out of this story are announced plans by Operation: Rescue to buy the building that housed Tiller’s practice, and the announcement that a colleague of Tiller’s plans to provide late-term abortions in Kansas as part of his Nebraska practice.
Operation: Rescue to Buy Tiller’s Former Clinic?
Tiller was a frequent target of anti-abortion protests since the 1980s. Former Operation: Rescue leader Randall Terry helped lead a 45-day “Summer of Mercy” demonstration in 1991 that led to almost 3-thousand arrests, as demonstrators sought to block access to Tiller’s clinic. Current Operation: Rescue president Troy Newman said that his group was interested in buying the former Tiller property after they heard the family was closing the clinic:
"I would love to make an offer on that abortion clinic and that's some of the discussion we're having...We would love to see that place established as a center for life, one that nurtures and cares for babies, rather than taking their lives."
Newman is currently in a legal dispute with Terry over who can legally use the name, Operation: Rescue. Newman has resided in Wichita and continued the activism against Tiller's clinic.
Newman is currently in a legal dipsute with Terry over who can legally use the name, Operation: Rescue. The organization has been using another former abortion clinic for a headquarters.
There is currently no word on whether there has been an offer by Operation: Rescue for the clinic.
Late-Term Abortions May Be Offered By Nebraska Practice
A Nebraska doctor who assisted the late Dr. Tiller may provide late-term abortions in Kansas as part of his Nebraska practice. Tiller provided abortions in the last trimester of pregnancy. Dr. Leroy Carhart of Bellevue, in Eastern Nebraska, practiced with Tiller, and says he is training his staff to provide late-term abortions. Some of Tiller’s former staff is assisting in the training. This news was not met with enthusiasm by a very vocal abortion opponent, Nebraska Attorney General, Jon Bruning:
"I'm disgusted and I'm saddened and I hate the he's here In Nebraska and I hate that he's in America...I mean this guy is one sick individual."
Prior to Tiller's death, Carhart had only performed late-term abortions at Tiller's clinic in Kansas.
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